ABSTRACT
According to feminists like Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings,66 an important element of a feminist ethic is that it rejects resolving moral problems through the categorical application of fixed rules or by the abstract weighing of principles, without reference to the context and concrete needs, desires and capacities of those involved. While rules, principles and the idea of equality favoured by the allegedly male oriented ‘ethic of justice’ cannot be totally abandoned, many feminists call for an allegedly more female ‘ethic of care’ to be instantiated alongside it, allowing for a more contextualised, inclusive and caring approach to issues of morality and justice. Whereas the ethic of justice holds that everyone should be treated the same, the ethic of care requires that no one should be hurt. Whereas men tend to stand on principle and act according to people’s rights, irrespective of the personal consequences, women are said to be more pragmatic, being more concerned to uphold relationships and protect their loved ones from harm. Also, in resolving moral dilemmas, men tend to rank ethical principles, whereas women attempt to meet everyone’s concrete needs and to ensure that if anyone is going to suffer, it should be those who can best bear the pain.
